Fitness Fiesta livens day at Poplar Avenue School

Student Sandra Thao blends a smoothie on a
special bicycle with the help of Linda Green and Pedro Uriostegue,
representatives from the CSUC Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion, at Poplar Avenue School Thursday.
(Barbara Arrigoni/Staff Photo)

OROVILLE — Despite gray skies and a few vendor cancellations, the second annual Fitness Fiesta went ahead as scheduled Thursday for children at Poplar Avenue School.

Classes took turns attending the event, which featured information booths, healthy snacks, and activities such as Zumba and jump rope.

The event was planned by Robyn Solansky, the Child Development Center coordinator for Thermalito Union School District.

"I feel it's important for children to see what's available in the community, organizations that share information about healthy eating and activities," Solansky said.

Representatives of the Chico State University Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion killed two birds with one stone by offering smoothies blended on a stationary bicycle. Students lined up for turns pumping the bicycle and for a taste of the yummy-looking drink.

A lot of action took place at the Oroville Hospital booth, where occupational therapist Annette Karaly and Rehabilitation Services Director Tama Czarnecki provided pamphlets and jump ropes.

Several children grabbed ropes and hopped over and over, though one boy couldn't quite figure out how to do it. Meanwhile, a group of seven children giggled and cheered while keeping count of a teacher's expertise with the rope.

"This is such a great exercise, but really it's just so fun," said Karaly during a short break between groups. "We want to get them away from television and video games, and engaging in fun, active games that are cheap and require very little."

The students' minds were also engaged with Nutrition Jeopardy, which Dairy Council of California Representative Lisa Larsen explained is patterned after the television game show.

It was a way for the students to gain a little knowledge about the five food groups.

Even Principal Lisa Cruikshank got into the spirit of the event by joining a group of fifth-grade students rollicking at Zumba, a method of workout moves set to lively music.

Eleven vendors participated in the Fitness Fiesta, though Cruikshank said four vendors canceled.

She said the purpose of having the event is to raise students' awareness of the importance of being active and making healthy choices about the foods they eat.